The BBC’s head of news was today moved to a new job following criticism of her role in handling the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Helen Boaden was appointed director of radio by incoming director-general Tony Hall, who also announced that former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell will join his senior management team.

The ex-Work and Pensions Secretary under Gordon Brown was appointed BBC director of strategy on a salary of £295,000 a year.

Ms Boaden was rumoured to be on the move after she was criticised by a report into why Newsnight dropped an investigation in December 2011 into Savile’s alleged abuse of girls.

An interim report into the affair by former Sky News chief Nick Pollard concluded that she “should have taken greater responsibility” during the crisis, which had left parts of her department in “meltdown”.

He also criticised Ms Boaden for the “casual” way she told former director–general George Entwistle that the Newsnight investigation into Savile’s abuse might clash with a planned tribute programme.

The move is widely seen as a demotion for Ms Boaden, who is paid £340,000 a year and was once a contender to be BBC director-general.

Today, in an email to staff, she said: “I confess that it is a bitter sweet moment for me. Everyone knows that I love Radio and always have...but leaving news and all of you is undoubtedly a wrench.”

Later she added: “You are a great, great team. What’s more, as I discovered during the past gruelling five months, whilst you may look at life with certain scepticism, you’re also profoundly generous and supportive when times are really tough.”

Mr Purnell was a former Labour Culture Secretary but resigned in 2009 after criticising the leadership of Gordon Brown. He will return to the BBC as head of strategy after a previous spell as head of corporate planning in the Nineties before entering Parliament.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to the BBC, to work on its future with such a great team,” he said. “I feel very lucky to have the chance to return to it, at such an important time.”

Mr Hall said: “I am building a senior team that will define the BBC and public service broadcasting for the next decade. It will be made up of outstanding talent from outside the BBC combined with the best people from within. Today’s appointments are the first steps in delivering that vision.”

The moves came as it emerged that Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman’s criticism of the way BBC bosses handled the Savile scandal will be redacted from transcripts of evidence given to the inquiry.

Next week Mr Pollard is due to publish more evidence in his final report, including details of emails and text messages which are thought to be deeply embarrassing to a number of senior BBC executives, including Ms Boaden.